I knew nothing about this film, and 'Spanish comedy' was not a genre I was familiar with or had particular expectations of. But this turned out to be the funniest thing I have seen for a long time. It has pure farce, played with impeccable timing, with such unlikely props as a tub of frozen soup and a duckling. It has wild satire both of religious fundamentalism and of amoral sexual behaviour and several other things in between. It centres on the relationship between a Jewish woman and a Palestinian man, and although it casts no profound light on their situation, it manages to portray them without excessive stereotyping and to include one quick fire debate which contains a potted history of the entire conflict without losing comic momentum. Yet it leaves all the characters with some shreds of human dignity, in spite of their farcical characteristics.
26 Reviews
Very Funny and Poignant International Update of "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"
noralee12 July 2006
"Only Human (Seres queridos)" is a broadly comic "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" for Shabbat. Even with some of the same silly slapstick as the parallel over-the-top satires "Go for Zucker! (Alles auf Zucker!)" and "When Do We Eat?", it is both intelligent and funny.
Amidst the nonsense that happens when the prodigal daughter returns from a job in Spain to her Argentinian Jewish family with an older academic fiancé who happens to be almost as perfect a Palestinian as Sidney Poitier was a Negro, there are surprising moments of poignancy and truth.
The first refreshing element is that this secular, assimilated family who has changed their last name does not look or act like Jewish stereotypes - they don't seem any crazier than any other family. They are not rich (the father got demoted at his salesman job), though the film does gently mock the daughter's pretentious intellectual TV program like those we've seen in several French films lately. Her fierce sibling rivalry with her sexy single mother, belly-dancing sister has spark. The blind grandfather has a complicated Holocaust and Zionist past that contradicts stereotypes of Argentina as a Nazi haven, though it recalls the family in "Lost Embrace (El Abrazo partido)". The brother's effort to become Orthodox has become a common comic foil in films lately, though his subversive effort to teach his niece Hebrew is quite droll.
The second surprise is that heavy philosophical discussions are made both effectively personal and very funny. including a debate about atheism vs. fundamentalism and Spain's role vis a vis the Inquisition and Muslim Moors. The misunderstandings about his Israeli passport are geo-politically amusing, including his travel travails. When told his mother is from Nablus, her confused mother is surprised: "There must not be many Jews in Nablus." Even though we don't learn too much about him (other than that Guillermo Toledo of "Crimen ferpecto" is one sexy dancer), he becomes increasingly more human as he's caught in awkward situations during the course of the film, culminating in a hilarious, no holds barred "I'm not a racist!" lovers' quarrel about religion, lifestyle, history and politics.
The slapstick is mostly funny, particularly a traveling frozen and defrosted chicken soup. Perhaps lost in translation is a too long side odyssey the dazed father takes through the city streets, let alone a silly duck.
The score and klezmerish and Middle Eastern musical selections are marvelous, though used a bit too much to emphasize the slapstick, including "Havah Nagilah" too heavy-handedly in one scene. The setting is mostly limited to one apartment, with every inch used very effectively.
The subtitles are always legible, though the print released in the U.S. uses British spellings and quizzical slang, that may have something to do with the four country funding from Britain, Spain, Portugal and Argentina. As is usually frustrating with subtitled comedies, dialogues are put on screen before the punch line is spoken out loud.
Amidst the nonsense that happens when the prodigal daughter returns from a job in Spain to her Argentinian Jewish family with an older academic fiancé who happens to be almost as perfect a Palestinian as Sidney Poitier was a Negro, there are surprising moments of poignancy and truth.
The first refreshing element is that this secular, assimilated family who has changed their last name does not look or act like Jewish stereotypes - they don't seem any crazier than any other family. They are not rich (the father got demoted at his salesman job), though the film does gently mock the daughter's pretentious intellectual TV program like those we've seen in several French films lately. Her fierce sibling rivalry with her sexy single mother, belly-dancing sister has spark. The blind grandfather has a complicated Holocaust and Zionist past that contradicts stereotypes of Argentina as a Nazi haven, though it recalls the family in "Lost Embrace (El Abrazo partido)". The brother's effort to become Orthodox has become a common comic foil in films lately, though his subversive effort to teach his niece Hebrew is quite droll.
The second surprise is that heavy philosophical discussions are made both effectively personal and very funny. including a debate about atheism vs. fundamentalism and Spain's role vis a vis the Inquisition and Muslim Moors. The misunderstandings about his Israeli passport are geo-politically amusing, including his travel travails. When told his mother is from Nablus, her confused mother is surprised: "There must not be many Jews in Nablus." Even though we don't learn too much about him (other than that Guillermo Toledo of "Crimen ferpecto" is one sexy dancer), he becomes increasingly more human as he's caught in awkward situations during the course of the film, culminating in a hilarious, no holds barred "I'm not a racist!" lovers' quarrel about religion, lifestyle, history and politics.
The slapstick is mostly funny, particularly a traveling frozen and defrosted chicken soup. Perhaps lost in translation is a too long side odyssey the dazed father takes through the city streets, let alone a silly duck.
The score and klezmerish and Middle Eastern musical selections are marvelous, though used a bit too much to emphasize the slapstick, including "Havah Nagilah" too heavy-handedly in one scene. The setting is mostly limited to one apartment, with every inch used very effectively.
The subtitles are always legible, though the print released in the U.S. uses British spellings and quizzical slang, that may have something to do with the four country funding from Britain, Spain, Portugal and Argentina. As is usually frustrating with subtitled comedies, dialogues are put on screen before the punch line is spoken out loud.
Love, family and belly dancing
newland8017 July 2004
"Seres queridos" is a very good comedy that mixes the necessary ingredients: love, humor, misunderstandings and a little mystery. The basic plot (Jewish girl and Palestinian boy go to girl's home to meet her family) soon turns to quirkier subplots that make the viewer not only amused, but also intrigued and moved.
Directors Pelegri and Harari have assembled a great cast, starting from leading man Guillermo Toledo to supporting players such as María Botto and Fernando Ramallo. Toledo had previously proved his ability as a comedian, but this time he proves he can carry a movie too. Botto is unforgettable as the belly-dancer sister, and her dance scene in a meeting room will surely the most remembered for years to come.
Although it partially deals with the tragic conflict between the Jewish and Palestinians in Israel, this sweet comedy gives the viewer the impression that such conflicts can be solved with the help of love, which is quite a relief. However, the eventual result of "Seres queridos" is that it lacks a little more wit so as to be really great, but it still remains as a very good watch.
Overall rating: 7/10
Directors Pelegri and Harari have assembled a great cast, starting from leading man Guillermo Toledo to supporting players such as María Botto and Fernando Ramallo. Toledo had previously proved his ability as a comedian, but this time he proves he can carry a movie too. Botto is unforgettable as the belly-dancer sister, and her dance scene in a meeting room will surely the most remembered for years to come.
Although it partially deals with the tragic conflict between the Jewish and Palestinians in Israel, this sweet comedy gives the viewer the impression that such conflicts can be solved with the help of love, which is quite a relief. However, the eventual result of "Seres queridos" is that it lacks a little more wit so as to be really great, but it still remains as a very good watch.
Overall rating: 7/10
ALMODAVAR ON ACID!
sales-1699 July 2004
I had the opportunity to see a preview of this movie (to be entitled "Only Human" for English-speaking audiences).
A genuinely funny take on a very real situation: Spanish Jewish neurotic girl who is a TV presenter in Madrid brings home her Palistinian lecturer boyfriend to meet her dysfunctional family.
Her sister is a nymphomaniac belly-dancer who lives at home with her five year old contrary daughter, younger brother (who is going through a faux ultra-orthodox stage), blind grandfather, pre-menopausal mother and a duckling!
The farcical plot (such as it is) revolves around some frozen soup, belly-dancing, Jewish-Islamic shiboleths and all the fun you can pack into 96 minutes!
It's cleverly plotted, extremely convincingly acted, neatly directly and very reminiscent of Pedro Almodavar - on acid! I fell off my chair laughing.
The use of klezmer-meets-belly-dancing music by Charlie Mole is a masterstroke of scoring.
Sure to be a great word of mouth hit, much as "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" eventually became.
A genuinely funny take on a very real situation: Spanish Jewish neurotic girl who is a TV presenter in Madrid brings home her Palistinian lecturer boyfriend to meet her dysfunctional family.
Her sister is a nymphomaniac belly-dancer who lives at home with her five year old contrary daughter, younger brother (who is going through a faux ultra-orthodox stage), blind grandfather, pre-menopausal mother and a duckling!
The farcical plot (such as it is) revolves around some frozen soup, belly-dancing, Jewish-Islamic shiboleths and all the fun you can pack into 96 minutes!
It's cleverly plotted, extremely convincingly acted, neatly directly and very reminiscent of Pedro Almodavar - on acid! I fell off my chair laughing.
The use of klezmer-meets-belly-dancing music by Charlie Mole is a masterstroke of scoring.
Sure to be a great word of mouth hit, much as "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" eventually became.
unexpected good one
dcldan28 June 2007
Rafi and Lina are in love and she is gonna show him to her family. The main problem is that she is Jew while Rafi is Palestinian. While Lina's mother is trying to digest the notice, Rafi accidentally throws a frozen soap through the window and hits a man that seems to be Lina's father. This, mixed with a fanatic brother, a crazy grandparent, a nymphomaniac sister and all the family as eccentric as this will cause endless comic situations. It is not precisely a masterpiece, but it is terribly funny. It's the proof that in Spain it is possible to make good comedies not related to sex, and, being a little film, it is surprisingly funny.
Funny and humorous comedy about a couple with different religion wanting to marry themselves
ma-cortes30 December 2014
Spanish/Argentina comedy with humor , fun , entertaining situations and ordinary actors . Bemusing comedy with absurd moments here and there ; being full of entertainment , romantic touches , bewildering humor and sheer amusement . This is an intrinsically facile yarn about the dilemma facing a young couple of different religion wanting to marry but lifted onto an altogether higher comedy by the enjoyable performances . As a family sees their life upside down when a daughter get married to an Arab of different religion and origins . Leni (Marian Aguilera) is a young Israeli who brings her Palestinian fiancé Rafi (Guillermo Toledo) to meet her family in Madrid . Leni's family is Jewish - mother (Norma Leandro) , father, older sister (Maria Botto) and daughter , brother (Fernando Ramallo) , and grandfather . Rafi is Arab , in Spain since age 12 . As the strange couple get mixed up in all kinds of ridiculous , hilarious and even romantic events . Before her father returns from work, Leni reveals Rafi's origins . Rafi accidentally drops a block of frozen soup out the flat window, probably killing a passerby . Leni initiates a cover-up and Rafi figures out the body is probably Leni's daddy . The body disappears and without telling the rest of the family what they know , the couple carries out an intense seek , but her father has been taken by two prostitutes (Koite , Yohana Cobo) . Meanwhile , mommy considers to be sure her hubby is having an affair . Then , her brother David grabs a rifle to shoot the Palestinian .
The film develops an amusing premise : A Jewish girl brings her Palestine boyfriend home to meet her parents and brothers ; as the situation truly tests their open-mindedness and understanding . Two protagonists serve as the anchors in what would otherwise have been a rather silly picture . There are a few cheap laughs , a couple of clichés, but other than that, the movie is pretty agreeable and offers more genuine laughs . The film is plenty of twisted as well as nutty incidents as when organize a search for dad or the nice dancing between the independent daughter , Maria Botto , and the Palestinian fiancé , Guillermo Toledo . The film moves in fits and starts most of which would be desirable, with more traps the viewer resists any kind , and some moments of enjoyment and others quite a few embarrassing . The flick relies heavily on the continued relationship between girlfriend , boyfriend and mom , mostly set into an apartment , but it doesn't make boring but entertaining . Casting is frankly well such as the starring couple : Marian Aguilera and Guillermo Toledo , they have a great chemistry together and are extraordinary funny . Nice acting by Fernando Ramallo as a teenager who has religious-craziness and hates Palestinians and likable Maria Botto as belly-dancing sister .
This is a decent member of the very popular make-fun-of-racism-comedy sub-genre . As the movie follows the wake to a classic film titled ¨Guess who's coming to dinner¨ by Stanley Kramer in which a white young brings black fiancé home to meet her family . Remade by Bollywood as the film "Total Chaos", turning the Jewish and Palestinian lovers into Indian and Pakistani . And recently has been made a similar French film titled "Serial (Bad) Weddings" (2014) by Philippe de Chauveron with Christian Clavier in which three daughters of a Catholic marriage to marry three young men of different religions and origins : Jewish , Arab and African.
The picture has an appropriate cinematography by Danny Cohen , a prestigious cameraman who has photographed popular films such as ¨Les Miserable¨ , ¨The king's speech¨ , ¨This is England¨ , ¨Johnny English returns¨ and ¨Pirate radio¨ . The motion picture was professionally directed by Dominic Harari and Teresa Pelegri , both of them good writers and filmmakers such as ¨Sin Vergüenza¨, ¨Unconscious¨ and ¨Amor En Su Punto¨, among others . Rating : acceptable and passable . This movie will never be a classic but it is quite fun .
The film develops an amusing premise : A Jewish girl brings her Palestine boyfriend home to meet her parents and brothers ; as the situation truly tests their open-mindedness and understanding . Two protagonists serve as the anchors in what would otherwise have been a rather silly picture . There are a few cheap laughs , a couple of clichés, but other than that, the movie is pretty agreeable and offers more genuine laughs . The film is plenty of twisted as well as nutty incidents as when organize a search for dad or the nice dancing between the independent daughter , Maria Botto , and the Palestinian fiancé , Guillermo Toledo . The film moves in fits and starts most of which would be desirable, with more traps the viewer resists any kind , and some moments of enjoyment and others quite a few embarrassing . The flick relies heavily on the continued relationship between girlfriend , boyfriend and mom , mostly set into an apartment , but it doesn't make boring but entertaining . Casting is frankly well such as the starring couple : Marian Aguilera and Guillermo Toledo , they have a great chemistry together and are extraordinary funny . Nice acting by Fernando Ramallo as a teenager who has religious-craziness and hates Palestinians and likable Maria Botto as belly-dancing sister .
This is a decent member of the very popular make-fun-of-racism-comedy sub-genre . As the movie follows the wake to a classic film titled ¨Guess who's coming to dinner¨ by Stanley Kramer in which a white young brings black fiancé home to meet her family . Remade by Bollywood as the film "Total Chaos", turning the Jewish and Palestinian lovers into Indian and Pakistani . And recently has been made a similar French film titled "Serial (Bad) Weddings" (2014) by Philippe de Chauveron with Christian Clavier in which three daughters of a Catholic marriage to marry three young men of different religions and origins : Jewish , Arab and African.
The picture has an appropriate cinematography by Danny Cohen , a prestigious cameraman who has photographed popular films such as ¨Les Miserable¨ , ¨The king's speech¨ , ¨This is England¨ , ¨Johnny English returns¨ and ¨Pirate radio¨ . The motion picture was professionally directed by Dominic Harari and Teresa Pelegri , both of them good writers and filmmakers such as ¨Sin Vergüenza¨, ¨Unconscious¨ and ¨Amor En Su Punto¨, among others . Rating : acceptable and passable . This movie will never be a classic but it is quite fun .
"Meet My Boyfriend: Oh, By the Way -- He's the Enemy."
nycritic21 November 2006
Warning: Spoilers
If you take the elements of GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER, peppered it with the wackiness from Almodovar's early days mixed with your pick of the craziest of screwball families from the 1930s and 40s, you'd get SERES QUERIDOS (DEAREST RELATIVES/BELOVED FAMILY, translated poorly as ONLY HUMAN which would technically be SOLAMENTE HUMANOS in Spanish). The movie, written and directed by Dominic Harari and Teresa Pellegri, moves at a breakneck speed as it immediately throws the viewer into a maelstrom of events surrounding the Dali family who are about to meet daughter Leni's (Marian Aguilera) newest boyfriend Rafi (Guillermo Toledo, previously seen in CRIMEN FERPECTO), a college professor. There's just a teeny little problem. The Dalis are Jewish... while Rafi is Palestinian.
Anyone who's kept up on current events knows that neither culture have been having a ball of a time. As a matter of fact, they've been at each other's throat for the last couple thousands of years. And Palestinians have this pesky habit of blowing themselves to bits. All in the name of land, and what belongs to whom.
Of course, mother (a very Almodovarian Norma Aleandro) couldn't capture this revelation more perfectly as that icy, frozen stare she gives the hapless Rafi once his ethnicity is revealed, and it's one of the movie's laugh-out-loud moments because it's so completely real. However, this is farce, and even when some incidents threaten to barrel out of control, especially in regards to the sisters' rivalry which explodes late in the plot, SERES QUERIDOS remains light fare and is happy to do so while never exploiting the darker issue it takes on -- as a matter of fact, that's only the fulcrum that sets off the lunacy, because there is a subplot involving a bowl of frozen soup and a father who may or may not have been killed and winds up in a really bizarre situation. And at a neat 89 minutes, it's a breeze.
Anyone who's kept up on current events knows that neither culture have been having a ball of a time. As a matter of fact, they've been at each other's throat for the last couple thousands of years. And Palestinians have this pesky habit of blowing themselves to bits. All in the name of land, and what belongs to whom.
Of course, mother (a very Almodovarian Norma Aleandro) couldn't capture this revelation more perfectly as that icy, frozen stare she gives the hapless Rafi once his ethnicity is revealed, and it's one of the movie's laugh-out-loud moments because it's so completely real. However, this is farce, and even when some incidents threaten to barrel out of control, especially in regards to the sisters' rivalry which explodes late in the plot, SERES QUERIDOS remains light fare and is happy to do so while never exploiting the darker issue it takes on -- as a matter of fact, that's only the fulcrum that sets off the lunacy, because there is a subplot involving a bowl of frozen soup and a father who may or may not have been killed and winds up in a really bizarre situation. And at a neat 89 minutes, it's a breeze.
A wonderful comedy
pb104-118 January 2006
The funniest film I've seen in years, "Only Human" is a comedy about Leni, the daughter of a eccentric Jewish family, who brings her fiancé home to meet her relatives for the first time. Dinner is planned, and all is going well, until Leni reveals that her fiancé Rafi is Palestinian. Of course the reaction is hysterical, and Rafi retreats to the kitchen to help in preparing the meal. He offers to take care of the chicken soup, but in removing the frozen soup from the container, it accidentally falls out the window, landing on the head of a man outside and knocking him out. To make things worse, the man may be Leni's father, and the soup may have killed him. Things really take off from there... With a cast of talented comic actors and a truly funny and irreverent screenplay, Only Human gave me more honest laughs than any film I've seen in ages. The characters are definitely oddball, but they are treated with respect, and there is no low humor or mocking of the characters' weirdness. It's good to see a comedy that takes it's humor from the situation and the personalities of the characters, rather than making them look stupid for a cheap laugh. Highly recommended. 10/10
Pretty Good, slacks off some
jmatrixrenegade1 July 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This is a sort of "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" / we aren't all that different culture clash sort of movie. A young t.v. star (status not specified) brings home her boyfriend ... the problem is that her family are Spanish Jews (grandfather fought in Israel), while her beloved new b/f is Palestinian. The family is not aware of this when she comes, leading to some farce sort of results.
The farce is added by the fact the family is a bit kooky, down to her little niece who pretends to be pregnant. This aspect of the movie starts early and is fun. The problem is that mid-way, the movie loses steam, and actually gets a bit too serious (respecting one of those mistakes necessary for farces to work, but it gets too serious) for comfort. Putting that aside, the maniac energy simple disappears, so that the last third or so of the film is a bit weak.
It ends on a pleasing note, but the loss of energy sort of hurts the film. Still worth a look. OTOH, what did happen to the duck?
The farce is added by the fact the family is a bit kooky, down to her little niece who pretends to be pregnant. This aspect of the movie starts early and is fun. The problem is that mid-way, the movie loses steam, and actually gets a bit too serious (respecting one of those mistakes necessary for farces to work, but it gets too serious) for comfort. Putting that aside, the maniac energy simple disappears, so that the last third or so of the film is a bit weak.
It ends on a pleasing note, but the loss of energy sort of hurts the film. Still worth a look. OTOH, what did happen to the duck?
My top comedy of all time...
crispapplestrudels26 May 2006
I know some people would look down on my 10 star rating for this film (I just checked the voting rates for this movie and am so surprised that a few people could be so callously lacking in humour as to give this gem of a film 1 star). Anyway, it is my personal favourite, and not only because this film makes you laugh and laugh throughout the entire film. I saw this at the Irish Film Festival a couple of years ago, the theatre was jam-packed and the audience could barely catch their breaths between laughing their arses off after each new set piece presented itself. The acting and comic timing from the entire ensemble cast is absolutely top-notch.
To me however, this is much more than just a "great" comedy, because it is a comedy based on situational absurdities that are in turn based on a very real yet absurd situation - the Israeli/Palestinian situation. To be able to make humour out of a very depressing real world situation, to laugh at the real absurdities of the world, this is what makes this comedy infinitely human and touching as well as being laugh-out-loud funny. After I left the cinema, what stayed with me wasn't just the many many funny scenes which left me giggling for days afterwards, but also the heart of the movie about what it is to relate to other people different from our own and how great it would be if we could only laugh at ourselves and our own absurd assumptions and behaviours a bit more.
A really lovely and genuinely funny movie, heartily recommended. This film just deserves to be seen by lots and lots more people who simply enjoy a good laugh; as well as by those who are deeply in need of a light-hearted perspective on the absurd life situations they find themselves in.
To me however, this is much more than just a "great" comedy, because it is a comedy based on situational absurdities that are in turn based on a very real yet absurd situation - the Israeli/Palestinian situation. To be able to make humour out of a very depressing real world situation, to laugh at the real absurdities of the world, this is what makes this comedy infinitely human and touching as well as being laugh-out-loud funny. After I left the cinema, what stayed with me wasn't just the many many funny scenes which left me giggling for days afterwards, but also the heart of the movie about what it is to relate to other people different from our own and how great it would be if we could only laugh at ourselves and our own absurd assumptions and behaviours a bit more.
A really lovely and genuinely funny movie, heartily recommended. This film just deserves to be seen by lots and lots more people who simply enjoy a good laugh; as well as by those who are deeply in need of a light-hearted perspective on the absurd life situations they find themselves in.
Some nice laughs but the characters are often difficult to like and seem amazingly like caricatures.
planktonrules7 October 2011
"Only Human" is described on the sleeve from Netflix as being a film much like the American film "Meet the Parents". This is a fair comparison, but I liked the first "Meet the Parents" film a bit more because the characters (with the exception of De Niro's ) were likable. Now I am not saying "Meet the Parents" was a great film--and the sequels...yecch! But "Only Human" and "Meet the Parents" are very similar films--too bad "Only Human" had too many difficult to like characters...or caricatures as they often seemed.
Leni is bringing her fiancé to meet her family in Madrid. The problem is that Leni is Jewish and Rafi is a Palestinian. However, no matter how difficult this may sound, the biggest problem of the evening turns out to be a frozen block of soup...yes, soup. It all turns into a rather dark and absurd film--and it has a few nice laughs. At the same time, however, I just found I hated Leni's family--they were obnoxious. The brother was a GIANT stereotype of a super-religious young Jew. The sister was a self-absorbed nymphomaniac. The sister's kid was just bizarre and made no sense. As for the mother, grandfather and father, they came off a bit better...only a bit. In fact, the only one I found likable in the film was poor Rafi. Still, it's a decent film to watch--it had some clever moments and made me chuckle a few times. Not a glowing endorsement but not a bad film at all.
Leni is bringing her fiancé to meet her family in Madrid. The problem is that Leni is Jewish and Rafi is a Palestinian. However, no matter how difficult this may sound, the biggest problem of the evening turns out to be a frozen block of soup...yes, soup. It all turns into a rather dark and absurd film--and it has a few nice laughs. At the same time, however, I just found I hated Leni's family--they were obnoxious. The brother was a GIANT stereotype of a super-religious young Jew. The sister was a self-absorbed nymphomaniac. The sister's kid was just bizarre and made no sense. As for the mother, grandfather and father, they came off a bit better...only a bit. In fact, the only one I found likable in the film was poor Rafi. Still, it's a decent film to watch--it had some clever moments and made me chuckle a few times. Not a glowing endorsement but not a bad film at all.
A good social comedy
pandabat7 June 2005
Thoroughly enjoyable tale of a woman in Spain bringing her Palestinian boyfriend home to meet her Jewish family. Needless to say all sorts of stereotypes and clichés pop up but it's all done in a reasonably realistic yet funny way. It's all played very much for laughs and this works as it is certainly one of the funnier movies that I have seen this year. It is also a victory for the basics of cinema. There are no special effects, no big artist soundtracks and as it was a foreign movie for me, it translated well and had no big stars. The story moves along perfectly and we see all of the characters that we need to see for the purposes of the story. If I had one criticism it would be that the end slightly over simplifies certain issues raised and feels a little too tidy given what has gone before. I felt that there either should have been one last joke to end on or perhaps an edgier/darker resolution to the issues raised. Nonetheless, it remains an amusing insight into the fact that families will drive you mad, no matter what!
Screwball comedy about the Arab-Israeli conflict.
themoviecouch13 January 2013
Leni (Marian Aguilera) and Rafi (Guillermo Toledo) are freshly in love, and since both live in Spain they are unconcerned with the fact that Leni is Jewish and Rafi is Palestinian. Hell still breaks loose, though, when they visit Leni's family for the first time. Things are uncomfortable enough with Leni's Israeli-army veteran grandfather, her controlling mother, her horny sister, and her newly religious brother, but when an accident occurs, things really get out of control.
A Spanish, screwball comedy about the Arab-Israeli conflict sounds like a long shot, but "Only Human" makes it work. The comedic cast keeps the outrageous story crackling along. Guillermo Toledo is especially good in his straight-man role, and it is with him that we identify as we bump along from one crazy situation to the next. He reminds me of Ben Stiller in "Meet the Parents." The message of the movie, "Love conquers all," isn't exactly groundbreaking, and I don't think any light is ultimately shed on the Arab-Israeli conflict, but it's a fun time.
A Spanish, screwball comedy about the Arab-Israeli conflict sounds like a long shot, but "Only Human" makes it work. The comedic cast keeps the outrageous story crackling along. Guillermo Toledo is especially good in his straight-man role, and it is with him that we identify as we bump along from one crazy situation to the next. He reminds me of Ben Stiller in "Meet the Parents." The message of the movie, "Love conquers all," isn't exactly groundbreaking, and I don't think any light is ultimately shed on the Arab-Israeli conflict, but it's a fun time.
A comedy that explores the differences
ambitten28 September 2004
This film is an interesting comedy that explores all the differences between Palestinian and Jewish people creating several situations that make not only people laugh but also think about how close these cultures are in fact. The story begins when Leni, a Jewish girl, decides to introduce his fiancée, a Palestinian boy, to her family. After being shortly shocked with these news, Leni's mother decides to support their wedding, blessing their engagement. Then, an accident caused by Rafi gives rise to several comic situations that will keep you laughing all the time. Doubtless the cast is very good, but I would like to mention Norma Aleandro's performance.
A Date Film for Charles Barkley's Daughter??
ThurstonHunger4 November 2006
Perhaps as good as a comedy can be for a love story about a Palestinian man and a Jewish women filmed in Madrid? I think the elements here are broad enough that this could play like the highlights of a year's worth of sitcoms to those who won't flinch at subtitles.
While I think the film was genuinely funny, in a madcap kind of way...where I think this film succeeds best is that when we first meet our potential in-laws, we can feel akin to a Palestinian with Jews, or vice-versa.
Something about the male lead too, his expressiveness and timing just screamed of haplessness. The women are desperate but strong, the religious zealotry of the son is well-played for laughs. The film dodges all potential bullets, and consistently hit its target squarely on the funnybone.
Or course I come to the film a charismatic agnostic, so I'm pretty immune to any incidental offense. But really the husband/wife team of Dominic Harari and Teresa Pelegri did a great job of walking a line while keeping an edge.
But remember this is a screwball comedy, not a peace plan. Just enjoy it, barbed humor is more preferable than barbed wire any day.
7/10 (hell I'd give it a 7.5)
Is the title a Spanish idiom? More than you are loved, or you are dears?? And more importantly, why was the US version 8 minutes shorter, I hope we were not deprived of more Maria Botto bellydancing. Sorry to blow any chance of being the sensitive male yet again, but she looked deliciosa. I too am only human...
While I think the film was genuinely funny, in a madcap kind of way...where I think this film succeeds best is that when we first meet our potential in-laws, we can feel akin to a Palestinian with Jews, or vice-versa.
Something about the male lead too, his expressiveness and timing just screamed of haplessness. The women are desperate but strong, the religious zealotry of the son is well-played for laughs. The film dodges all potential bullets, and consistently hit its target squarely on the funnybone.
Or course I come to the film a charismatic agnostic, so I'm pretty immune to any incidental offense. But really the husband/wife team of Dominic Harari and Teresa Pelegri did a great job of walking a line while keeping an edge.
But remember this is a screwball comedy, not a peace plan. Just enjoy it, barbed humor is more preferable than barbed wire any day.
7/10 (hell I'd give it a 7.5)
Is the title a Spanish idiom? More than you are loved, or you are dears?? And more importantly, why was the US version 8 minutes shorter, I hope we were not deprived of more Maria Botto bellydancing. Sorry to blow any chance of being the sensitive male yet again, but she looked deliciosa. I too am only human...
Only Human
random_avenger6 October 2010
Living up to the expectations of one's in-laws is often difficult and thus a delicious subject for a comedy. In Dominic Harari and Teresa Pelegri's romantic comedy Only Human the premise is given additional twist originating from the long-running conflicts in the Middle-East: a TV-reporter Leni (Marián Aguilera) is bringing her new Palestinian boyfriend Rafi (Guillermo Toledo) to meet her Jewish family in Madrid for the first time. Of course, revealing the nervous Rafi's heritage creates extra worries for the family's fussy mother Gloria (Norma Aleandro) who is struggling with the dinner preparations to begin with. Leni's promiscuous sister Tania (María Botto) and her highly orthodox brother David (Fernando Ramallo) aren't much help, not to even mention the blind and senile grandfather Dudu (Max Berliner) and Tania's young and restless daughter Paula (Alba Molinero).
The movie trusts mostly tried and true conventions of the "in-law comedy" subgenre: there's hectic bumbling, series of misunderstandings and plenty of awkward moments, all acted in a fast-paced, energetic manner typical for Spaniards. The jokes are hardly original but adequately entertaining all the same, so the movie is easily on par with other similar comedy hits like Meet the Parents (2000), Father of the Bride (1991) and their respective sequels. During the last third or so the film starts turning a bit more serious, or shall we say expands its horizon to darker comedy, after the storyline of the family's amnesiac, potentially unfaithful father Ernesto (Mario Martín) gets started and insecurities of both internal and external origin begin coming out.
The visuals look very nice especially for a hectic rom-com; the greenish lighting in the family's apartment could perhaps be more typically found in bleak kitchen sink dramas and makes a nice contrast to the dark night outside, as the entire story takes place during a single evening. The long office corridors in the last act are also neatly presented on the screen, even if the movie doesn't really aim to be a meticulously composed collection of art shots, nor does it have to. The actors are also amusing in their roles, especially Toledo as the bookworm-y Rafi and Aleandro as Gloria who essentially carries the film with her Spanish temperament. Marián Aguilera looks very beautiful and fits in her role well, making sure that Leni's romance with Rafi rings true.
Although there is a lot to like in Only Human, I feel the 90-minute runtime is stretching the material a bit too thin: the basic elements of the story (comedic, dramatic and romantic) have been used many times before, so it is not as easy to get excited about the whole anymore. Nevertheless, as I mentioned before, the movie is not worse than its kind in general and the Spanish energy adds something of a special atmosphere when compared to many American movies, so the film is surely worth a recommendation to comedy fans, why not others as well.
The movie trusts mostly tried and true conventions of the "in-law comedy" subgenre: there's hectic bumbling, series of misunderstandings and plenty of awkward moments, all acted in a fast-paced, energetic manner typical for Spaniards. The jokes are hardly original but adequately entertaining all the same, so the movie is easily on par with other similar comedy hits like Meet the Parents (2000), Father of the Bride (1991) and their respective sequels. During the last third or so the film starts turning a bit more serious, or shall we say expands its horizon to darker comedy, after the storyline of the family's amnesiac, potentially unfaithful father Ernesto (Mario Martín) gets started and insecurities of both internal and external origin begin coming out.
The visuals look very nice especially for a hectic rom-com; the greenish lighting in the family's apartment could perhaps be more typically found in bleak kitchen sink dramas and makes a nice contrast to the dark night outside, as the entire story takes place during a single evening. The long office corridors in the last act are also neatly presented on the screen, even if the movie doesn't really aim to be a meticulously composed collection of art shots, nor does it have to. The actors are also amusing in their roles, especially Toledo as the bookworm-y Rafi and Aleandro as Gloria who essentially carries the film with her Spanish temperament. Marián Aguilera looks very beautiful and fits in her role well, making sure that Leni's romance with Rafi rings true.
Although there is a lot to like in Only Human, I feel the 90-minute runtime is stretching the material a bit too thin: the basic elements of the story (comedic, dramatic and romantic) have been used many times before, so it is not as easy to get excited about the whole anymore. Nevertheless, as I mentioned before, the movie is not worse than its kind in general and the Spanish energy adds something of a special atmosphere when compared to many American movies, so the film is surely worth a recommendation to comedy fans, why not others as well.
don't take it too seriously
dromasca15 March 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This film is fine if you take it as a date movie. A candidate boyfriend comes to his future wife family, the family of his bride-to-be is totally dis-functional - a frigid mother, a blind and decrepit grandfather, an elder single-motherly nymphomaniac sister, a younger brother falling into spiritualism, and a father who seems to go ranting after other women, just to get apparently killed by frozen soup shock and then reaper alive minus his memory. There is enough material here for a foamy comedy of situations, with the differences in status between the future husband and the family playing the task of the romantic background.
The problem is that the difference between the families is the precipice of the Middle Eastern conflict, and the film seems to be trying to say much more than the usual date comedy and fails. It fails because the stereotype of the characters cannot provide the emotional strength that would let us believe that the relationship that we are seeing on screen can really tell any truth about real life relations between Jews and Palestinians. From this point of view the comedy is not better than similar comedies on Israeli TV. Better watch it as what it is - a well made family comedy, but do not take it too seriously.
The problem is that the difference between the families is the precipice of the Middle Eastern conflict, and the film seems to be trying to say much more than the usual date comedy and fails. It fails because the stereotype of the characters cannot provide the emotional strength that would let us believe that the relationship that we are seeing on screen can really tell any truth about real life relations between Jews and Palestinians. From this point of view the comedy is not better than similar comedies on Israeli TV. Better watch it as what it is - a well made family comedy, but do not take it too seriously.
Great characters, fun script
jeremy-liebster23 May 2005
I went to see this with very limited expectations as I had not read many reviews but I have to say I really enjoyed it. Its slight zaniness is recognisably Spanish while there were also elements of typically Jewish humour. Some of the set pieces in the film are laugh at loud funny, while the characters are superb - in particular the ex-Israeli army granddad, the ultra religious but very confused son and the nymphomaniac daughter. This is a family with real problems and the comedy is often tinged with sadness. In an albeit short argument at the end between the Jewish daughter and her Palestinian boyfriend the Middle East debate is given a very vocal hearing, and while this film does not attempt to delve into the subject too deeply, it is an amusing, feel-good take on family relationships and Jewish-Arab relations.
Excellent Re-hash
cadmandu30 July 2006
This is a Spanish film (subtitles) about a Jewish girl who brings her Palestinian boyfriend home to meet the family. This is not a serious social or political commentary. It is a farce in the vein of Opera Buffo and a long tradition of Spanish farces. It's hysterically funny and well done, but it is what it is. I enjoyed it tremendously. The bathroom scene with the fiancé and the grandfather had me laughing so hard I needed cpr.
The dialog is well done and tight. There is one scene towards the end where the girl and her boyfriend are having a fight and they go thru the entire Israeli/Palestinian conflict in about 3 minutes. It's really an accomplishment.
A good film about a subject that desperately needs some humor, especially these days.
The dialog is well done and tight. There is one scene towards the end where the girl and her boyfriend are having a fight and they go thru the entire Israeli/Palestinian conflict in about 3 minutes. It's really an accomplishment.
A good film about a subject that desperately needs some humor, especially these days.
"Can't We All Just Get Along!"
fwomp28 March 2007
ONLY HUMAN explores prejudice, but not on a worldly scale. Instead it focuses on one family and how their past and present attitudes may eventually spell out their futures. And it's damn funny.
Dealing with the Palestinian/Israeli equation is touchy at the best of times, but laughing at it is something most probably don't even think about.
When an Israeli Jew brings home her fiancé, it's usually a time for celebration. So when Leni (Marian Aguilera, THE RECKONING), the daughter of a nice Jewish family, brings home her future husband, one would think it'll spark smiles and joy. But Leni's man Rafi (Guillermo Toledo) shows up on her parents' doorstep with her and we immediately know there are going to be ...uh ...problems. He's a Palestinian and he's ducking into the den of a practicing Jewish family.
Usually this type of set up would spark dramatic elements but here we're given a hilarious take on one family and how they come to grips with their daughter's choice. Not only that, but Rafi has to come to terms with an accident that may have killed Leni's father.
Getting ready for dinner, Rafi is introduced to this rather wacky family. There's the nymphomaniac sister, a blind, gun-toting grandfather, the overly-religious brother, and the protective mother. Leni's father is supposed to show up for the dinner but is late for some reason. Leni's younger sister (the nympho) believes their father is having an affair, but only Rafi really knows what may have happened to him. While taking the evening's soup out of the freezer, Rafi accidentally drops it out the kitchen window, and the frozen block falls several stories before landing on someone's head; Leni's dad? No. It couldn't be, could it? Now another Palestinian has possibly killed a Jew, this time with a new weapon! Rafi and Leni must contend with their own inherent prejudices while trying to save their future, and prevent the evening from disintegrating into a quagmire of misunderstandings.
The comedy is both in the dialogue and physical. Rafi tries to find out what's happening to the man below who's head was bashed by the frozen soup. He goes into the bathroom and peers out its window. In the meantime, Leni's grandfather (blind) lumbers in to take a pee, and Rafi gets into an unusual position on the toilet in order to avoid being discovered by Grandpa.
This is a refreshing story that brings high marks for comedy into a realm not normally reserved for such things. The only downside is that the dialogue is sometimes rapid and for those who don't speak Spanish (the movie was shot in Spain), it's often times difficult to read the subtitles and keep up with the action on screen. Otherwise this is an excellent flick.
Dealing with the Palestinian/Israeli equation is touchy at the best of times, but laughing at it is something most probably don't even think about.
When an Israeli Jew brings home her fiancé, it's usually a time for celebration. So when Leni (Marian Aguilera, THE RECKONING), the daughter of a nice Jewish family, brings home her future husband, one would think it'll spark smiles and joy. But Leni's man Rafi (Guillermo Toledo) shows up on her parents' doorstep with her and we immediately know there are going to be ...uh ...problems. He's a Palestinian and he's ducking into the den of a practicing Jewish family.
Usually this type of set up would spark dramatic elements but here we're given a hilarious take on one family and how they come to grips with their daughter's choice. Not only that, but Rafi has to come to terms with an accident that may have killed Leni's father.
Getting ready for dinner, Rafi is introduced to this rather wacky family. There's the nymphomaniac sister, a blind, gun-toting grandfather, the overly-religious brother, and the protective mother. Leni's father is supposed to show up for the dinner but is late for some reason. Leni's younger sister (the nympho) believes their father is having an affair, but only Rafi really knows what may have happened to him. While taking the evening's soup out of the freezer, Rafi accidentally drops it out the kitchen window, and the frozen block falls several stories before landing on someone's head; Leni's dad? No. It couldn't be, could it? Now another Palestinian has possibly killed a Jew, this time with a new weapon! Rafi and Leni must contend with their own inherent prejudices while trying to save their future, and prevent the evening from disintegrating into a quagmire of misunderstandings.
The comedy is both in the dialogue and physical. Rafi tries to find out what's happening to the man below who's head was bashed by the frozen soup. He goes into the bathroom and peers out its window. In the meantime, Leni's grandfather (blind) lumbers in to take a pee, and Rafi gets into an unusual position on the toilet in order to avoid being discovered by Grandpa.
This is a refreshing story that brings high marks for comedy into a realm not normally reserved for such things. The only downside is that the dialogue is sometimes rapid and for those who don't speak Spanish (the movie was shot in Spain), it's often times difficult to read the subtitles and keep up with the action on screen. Otherwise this is an excellent flick.
really hilarious
arto-1225 July 2006
Big belly laughs throughout this one.
It's opening in San Francisco this week, sadly in a smaller art house.
Here's hoping it finds a wide audience.
The ensemble cast is flawless, with great writing and fine comic timing in several classically farcical scenes.
The film manages to be quirky, warm, and very, very funny.
We follow the events of a very special night in the life of a middle-class Jewish family in Spain when their daughter brings home her Palestinian fiancée.
The other commenters have given all the plot details thar are prudently revealed.
It's been a long time since I've laughed this hard at a movie.
It's opening in San Francisco this week, sadly in a smaller art house.
Here's hoping it finds a wide audience.
The ensemble cast is flawless, with great writing and fine comic timing in several classically farcical scenes.
The film manages to be quirky, warm, and very, very funny.
We follow the events of a very special night in the life of a middle-class Jewish family in Spain when their daughter brings home her Palestinian fiancée.
The other commenters have given all the plot details thar are prudently revealed.
It's been a long time since I've laughed this hard at a movie.
If you are in the mood to laugh, this movie could be explosive
rsivan3 February 2007
This is a light but well scripted comedy about a dysfunctional Jewish family in Spain, being visited by a daughter from out of town and by her Palestinian fiancé. The fiancé's name is Rafi and he is at first believed by the family to be Israeli (he was indeed born in Jerusalem).
I can particularly relate to this movie because as I am: (1) South American born. (2) Was raised Jewish and (3) Lived many years in Israel. In short I can relate to this hilarious comedy from many different personal angles. The movie is really funny even as it tangentially touches dramatic issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a dysfunctional family, an overzealous luggage search for Rafi which is clearly what many Muslims are experiencing at airports, religious matters, family dramas and much more. You have to be able to look at the world with a bit of salt and pepper to really enjoy a scene such as the family asking him in which Intifada Rafi fought (he did not lie, he just did not mention he fought for the other side:) ). I found that scene hilarious. I hope you can loosen up and enjoy!
I can particularly relate to this movie because as I am: (1) South American born. (2) Was raised Jewish and (3) Lived many years in Israel. In short I can relate to this hilarious comedy from many different personal angles. The movie is really funny even as it tangentially touches dramatic issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a dysfunctional family, an overzealous luggage search for Rafi which is clearly what many Muslims are experiencing at airports, religious matters, family dramas and much more. You have to be able to look at the world with a bit of salt and pepper to really enjoy a scene such as the family asking him in which Intifada Rafi fought (he did not lie, he just did not mention he fought for the other side:) ). I found that scene hilarious. I hope you can loosen up and enjoy!
a crazy demented film which IL have you in stitches
roberthabermann31 July 2005
I have now seen this delightful film twice and it still makes me laugh. It is so zany. The initial set up, Jewish girl brings Palestinian fiancé to meet mother for Friday night supper is not exactly promising but the set pieces are wonderfully zany and demented - ultra Orthodox son who prevents anyone cooking, phoning because it is the Jewish sabbath, the blind grandfather who goes to pee whilst the fiancé is trying to look out of a window whilst standing on the window sill, the frozen soup sequence, where the Palestinians fiancé is trying to defrost the frozen soup and accidentally knocks it out of the window and thinks it has killed the father coming home from work. I cannot wait for it to come out on DVD and laugh again
Juliet takes her Romeo home to dinner to meet the family - marvellously funny, marvellously observed.
bozsid28 May 2005
Within two minutes of its start, I was hooked by the wonderful cast, and a witty, warm and often painfully funny script; it succeeds brilliantly and without pontification or judgement in presenting us with the absurdity of our prejudices.
Even if you've always been someone who would rather be hanged, drawn and quartered before you see a 'foreign-language film', do yourselves a favour and see this one! You won't regret it and you'll still be remembering it fondly and chuckling long after you've left the cinema, I promise you.
As it drew towards its conclusion, all my companions and I agreed we wanted it to go on for much longer than those consummately delightful but oh-so short 96 minutes. A real gem.
Even if you've always been someone who would rather be hanged, drawn and quartered before you see a 'foreign-language film', do yourselves a favour and see this one! You won't regret it and you'll still be remembering it fondly and chuckling long after you've left the cinema, I promise you.
As it drew towards its conclusion, all my companions and I agreed we wanted it to go on for much longer than those consummately delightful but oh-so short 96 minutes. A real gem.
So funny
imdb-1160912 February 2006
The first review is good, but it really is even funnier that that, and I'm a Jew. The Goys were rolling in the aisles too.
It is true I saw it at a film club after a very funny short and we had all eaten - and perhaps drunk - well, and thus were in good humour, but it is the funniest thing I have seen for years.
I'm sure that things could be done better, and the action was sometimes so quick that one could only take in it or the sub-titles, but not both.
The memorable one-liner from Gloria Dali ''Tthere will be peace in Israel before your father gives me an orgasm' was more or less on a par with the rest.
It is true I saw it at a film club after a very funny short and we had all eaten - and perhaps drunk - well, and thus were in good humour, but it is the funniest thing I have seen for years.
I'm sure that things could be done better, and the action was sometimes so quick that one could only take in it or the sub-titles, but not both.
The memorable one-liner from Gloria Dali ''Tthere will be peace in Israel before your father gives me an orgasm' was more or less on a par with the rest.
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